Friction-lock for steering-wheels



(No Model.)

S. B. GREAOEN. FRICTION LOOK FOR STEERING WHEELS. No. 249,517

Patented Nov. 15,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEFIcE.

STEPHEN B. GREAGEN, PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY.

FRICTION-LOCK FOR STEERING-WH EELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Patent No. 249,517, dated November 15, I881.

Application filed July 8, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN B. GREACEN, of Perth Amboy, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Friction Becket or Lock for Hand Steering-Wheels, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to a friction becket or lock to be used with the hand steering-wheels of all vessels,.either sail or steam,whereby the labor of a pilot is greatly lessened and the wheel is held securely in any position, being instantly locked or unlocked; and i tcons'ists in a friction plate or plates working in combination with the bearing and hub of the steeringwheel. 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a steeringwheel. Fig.2 is a sectional elevation showing the wheel locked. Fig.3 is the same showing the wheel unlocked.

In my construction, A is a center shaft, 011 which the apparatus revolves.

B is the wheel or gear to which the rope or chain K is attached for moving the rudder.

O is ajournal and friction plate combined.

D is the steeringwheel.

E is a hand-wheel, which, together ,with the screw F, to which it is secured,works the steering-wheel out or in upon a square hub or boss, G, on the central shaft, there being a square hole, H, in the steering-wheel to fit the square hub G.

In Fig. 2 the apparatus is shown locked, which is done by drawing the convex disk of the steering-wheel, by means of the hand-wheel and screw, into and upon the concave disk I of plate 0-.

Fig. 3 shows the whole apparatus unlocked and free to revolve in either directionstarboard or port. ,7

Fig. 4 is. a partial front view of steering- 'substantially as specified.

whcel,showing the squarchub herein referred to.

There may be some modifications of the mechanism for forcing a friction-bearing against or upon the steering-wheel and center shaft and the same result be securedviz., of instantly locking the wheel by the hand of the pilot.

I claim- 1. In combination with a steering-wheel, D, of a hand steering apparatus, a friction becket or look connectedtwith a hand-wheel and unit ing-screw, and adapted by the turuin g of said hand-wheel to form a locking contact with the friction-plate G, the screw F turning in the square hub G and forcing the wheelD, sliding on the hub, against the plate (J, substantially as specified. y

2. In combination with the shaft A, having the square hub or boss G and carrying the friction-plate O, the steering-wheel I), having in its inner face a square hole, H, adapting it, by the movement ofthe hand-wheel E, as above described, to slide upon the square hub Gr, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the shaft A, having the square hub, substantially as described, and convex friction-plate O, the concave face of the steering-wheel D, adapted, by the movement of the hand-wheel E, as above described, to

form a locking connection with the plate 0,

4. In combination with the shaft A, plate 0, and steering wheel D,constructed and arranged substantially as set forth, the hand steeringwheel E,- provided with the screw F, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

STEPHEN B. GREAUEN.

Witnesses:

H. V.'MARKS, J. H. PROCTORS. 

